Im planning a trip to Vermont in Jan from London, England for snowboarding, im a novice and would like to find an area that has lots of other things to do (in case I fall over too much!)

Its our first time to USA in winter. We will have a car but would like to find an area and hotel with stuff e.g restaurants and bars in walking distance (just cant get used to driving on the other side of the road!)

So far we've narrowed it down to Killington or Stowe both look beautiful.

Any help anyone can give would be greatly appreciated, we're looking forward to sampling some good old fashioned Vermont hospitality!

If vermont hospitality is what you really want,go to Stowe. Killington is very big, and,I think lost its character. Stowe still has Trapp family lodge etc. Your also not that far from Sugarbush,which is great as well.

I found the slopes at Stowe to be very user friendly, Long runs, some easy enough to learn on, beautiful to ski. Challenging slopes as well (I stayed away) Been to Killington, but too long ago to remember much.

I agree with Doc. Stowe is what you want. Killington is a large resort and lacks the "vermont charm" that so many look for. It is also a complete zoo on weekends.
The town of Stowe is great. There are many types of lodging you can choose from. If you stay along Mountain Road,there is a shuttle bus that runs to and from town and the ski area. Lots of great restaurants as well. Since you're a beginner, you'll most likely be over on Spruce Peak where lessons are held-nice learning area and seperate from the "main mountain".
For info on Stowe check out www.gostowe.com and www.stowe.com
Like doc said, you can also check out Sugarbush which is about a 1/2 hour south of Stowe-great mountain. www.sugarbush.com
Have a great time.

Honestly, if you're a novice...hit Stowe. The terrain is much more friendly to newbies! The town is sweet too, great nightlife, stellar restaurants.

Killington is a giant resort---it looks giant, it FEELS giant. Not user-friendly at all...and I just don't like the way ASC (the owners of several resorts) runs things---so I don't give them my money.

Don't get me wrong, Killington has some sick places to ride, but for your first time out, stick where more people ride. Skiiers seriously outnumber riders at Killington, and it does make a difference!

Also, in Stowe you really won't have to do much driving at night if you stay on the mountain road...closer to the resort (which is at the top of Mountain Rd) is a distance from the town. Any driving you do will be minimal...a mile or two in any direction to check out Stowe, and a few more miles on "open road"--no turns--once you leave mountain rd, you can go straight all the way to the Cider Mill, Cabot Cheddar Annex, Lake Champlain Chocolates and the Ben and Jerry's Factory....it's the eating tour of Waterbury. Another couple of miles gets you to the Interstate and another 25 easy miles to lovely Burlington.

Phew...hope I didn't overwhelm you!! Any other questions, pls ask!

My favorite and I have never been to Stowe, is Sugar Bush. There are very wide trails here. Killington is ok and I have only been there when conditions where not the best. Still sugarbush has better trails.

Gotta be Stowe! One of the most beautiful places in the Northeast, Stowe still exudes the charm that Killington lost years ago.

If you like all things WHITE then go to Vermont.

Second whitest state in the Union.( behind Maine )

Way whiter than Utah...not even close.

I live not far from Killington. Big party town, not a whole lot of charm.
Another big vote for Stowe!

I love the skiing at Sugarbush, but you should be aware that there is very little nightlife in the area ... just a few restaurants and you'll need a car (unless you stay right at the base of the mountain ... a couple of restaurants are within walking distance). Stowe has great skiing and is full of the charm that you think of when you think of skiing in Vermont. Killington is BIG with LOTS of people. Not much atmoshere/charm in the immediate area, but there are alot of restaurants and a pretty rowdy, nightlife scene with many bars/clubs i the immediate area, although you may need a car as most places are off the highway that runs through there.

Since it's your first time to the US, I would recommend Stowe if you are only going to one. If you have time, you could go to both.

I am a season's paas holder at Stowe. For two years I skied at Killington but me and all of my friends have moved on to Stowe. It's much nicer than Killington in every way.

Saying that, DON'T COME ALL THE WAY TO THE US TO SKI THE EAST COAST RESORTS!!!

If you've ever skied in Europe, you'll be very disappointed by Stowe and Killington. Skiing in the East Coast US is known for small mountains, frigid cold temps, and tons of ice. Don't believe the mountain statistics that you might read on the website - Stowe may advertise a large number of trails and a lot of skiing acerage but the mountain (my favorite by far in the east) is leagues behind anything out west. GO TO THE WEST, ROCKY MOUNTAINS for REAL US SKIING!!! God forbid someone could come all this way to the US and experience something so 2nd rate! Go to Snowbird, Alta, Park City in Utah. Visit Vail or Aspen, Colorado. Or go to Canada and visit Banff or Whistler/Blackcomb.

Rocky Mountain resorts will be the equivalent/better than the big European counterparts: St. Moritz, Zermat, etc. East Coast US ski resorts like Stowe are probably nicer than Scottish areas - but not by much.

Hey makes an excellent point. While Stowe is a charming town, you should really ski in the West. If you want lots of things to do, think Park City (Utah), Tahoe (Calif-Nevada border), Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge or other Colorado resorts. Or Whistler in British Columbia. You can get by without a car in all of those places
Snow in New England is very unpredictable. Ice is common and it's miserable to deal with.
The West Coast has some of the best skiing/boarding in the world.
If you are determined to go to the East Coast, then Stowe is better than Killington. Killington is a zoo on week-ends and the last two times I was there, someone stole some of my ski equipment (poles first time, boot bag the second).

hey there kate
i think if i was being honest i would go to france because its a hell of a long way to go if your'e pants at boarding.go to somewhere like france
where they have chamonois which has
some narly white stuff.the night life is also rad with many pubs and clubs
with bitching hospitality too.whatever you choose have a great time.peace out......

Totally agree with above posters ... I ski out east because this is closer to where I live and I can get there by car. However, given a choice, I would always take an opportunity to ski out west over the east any day! The snow is much better out west for skiing. Colorado or Utah would be great choices. Lake Tahoe gets alot of snow, but I've heard it's a heavier type than Utah/Colorado get.

Kate,
If you're considering the west, I'd take a serious look at Whistler. From the US, Canadian exchange rates make vacationing north of the border a bargain. I don't follow UK/Canadian exchange, but I have to assume that your pounds would go farther in Canada.

Here's a resource:
http://www.skimag.com/skimag/

Stowe is my favorite place in the East to ski. However, the West does provide an entirely different experience. I'd stop in Boston for it's charm, then head out to Utah where you'll be able to ski/board yourself silly at Park City, The Canyons, Alta, Snowbird, Deer Valley...the list goes on and on. If you have the time, inclination and the $$ I'd go to Utah.

I live in Massachusetts and am a season pass holder at Killington. It has much more variety of terrain than Stowe and I ski mid-week so the crowds aren't bad. Having said that, if I were coming from GB, I would go to Park City, Utah instead of the East Coast. The snow is better quality, no ice, and the weather is more reliable. You can get a total rainy washout and warm temps in VT for a few days in the winter. Park City has lots of nightlife, is a great walking town and has a shuttle bus that will take you anywhere. Plus, there are 3 ski areas right in the town and many more just a 45 min. drive away. You could take a shuttle bus from Salt Lake City airport and not need a car at all. Good luck.

The canadian Rockies (Whistler, British Columbia or Banff, Alberta)have the best ski I know. The scenery is awsome and everything would cost you half the price of the USA.

It is just like the Alps but unspoiled.

The flight would be 5 hours longer though.

We went to Whistler for a week in Jan. a few years ago. It rained for 7 days and nights. Would NEVER go back.

I've skied in the Alps and the Rockies and last year in Killington. Couldn't agree more: Either go to the Continent or out West; you'll probably be disappointed with Northeast skiing/snowboarding.